Safety-pocket



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HORACE HARRIS, 0F NEVARK, NEW JERSEY.

SAFETY-POCKET. i

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,573, dated June 16, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE HARRIS, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Method of Constructing Pockets for Vearing-Apparel, which said invention I designate as Harris Protected Pocketg and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speccation, of which- Figure 1 is a perspective View, the mouth or frame of the pocket being open. Figs. 2 and 4, are views of the frame disconnected from the other part of the pocket, and Fig. 3, a section of a waistcoat, showing therein the adaptation and application of my invention as a guard or watch pocket.

The same letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

The pockets now used in wearing apparel are well known to be insecure. The amount of money, valuable papers, and watches, from time to time, either lost or stolen from them, notwithstanding the care taken, amply attest this. The liability of loss is constant, in the cities or on travel they are open to the fingers of the thief, or at home or at leisure, a reclining posture or a change of raiment may involve a loss. To overcome these obj ections and to construct a pocket in such a manner as that, while it shall be simple, feasible and of little cost, it shall also aiford a perfect protection against loss or theft, is the object of my invention.

The nature of my invention consists in inserting strongly between the lining of the garment a pocket guarded about by small chains, to prevent it from being cut out, and having its mouth sewed to a wire spring frame with a spring catch and concealed chain attached thereto in such a manner that although the mouth of the pocket may be sprung together and closed from the outside, it can be opened only by the wearer, and that, by pulling the concealed chain fastened to the said catch.

In the drawing, A is the body of the pocket made of strong linen or other suitable fabric.

B, is the wire frame to which the edges of the mouth of the pocket A, is sewed.

C, is a spring formed on one side of the hinge of the frame and so constructed that the tendency is always to throw the frame open. The spring C may be formed by twisting the end of one side of the frame B over and then under the other side of the frame, substantially as represented in Fig. 2, or the parts of the frame may be riveted together, and the spring in the frame formed by the arrangement of simply twisting one side of the frame over the other as represented in Fig. Ll.

D is a catch attached to the frame as represented and held by means of the spring E, in such a position as to seize and retain in a closed position the twoparts of the wire frame when brought together, or, when the chain F is drawn, to liberate and permit the spring in the frame to operate and the frame to spring open. The spring E and catch D may be formed of separate parts, riveted together as in Fig. 2, or the said spring and catch may be made of one piece of wire, bent into the required form as represented in Fig. 4. The latter method I think is the best. The chain F, with the ring G, is attached to the catch D, for the purpose of springing the same and is used and adjusted in the manner hereinafter described.

L, 7i, la, 7L, are chains attached to the frame B, and bound about and attached to the body of the pocket A, substantially as shown in the drawings and are for the purpose of preventing the pocket from being cut out. The ends of the chains L, 7L, z', h, running into the garment in different directions (Fig. 3) are for the purpose of prevent-ing the pocket from being cut out, by being cut around it. The wire frame B may be variously constructed and adapted to suit the requirements and convenience of the garment in which it is to be worn, and the mouth of the frame may be formed with the orifices O, O, O, O, (Fig. 3) where the pocket is to be used for a watch, so that the guard chain may not interfere with the closing of the pocket frame. Fig. 3 shows the application of my invention to a waistcoat for the purpose of a guard pocket for a watch.

The whole pocket, frame, springs, catch and chains attached thereto are included and concealed in the lining of the garment and the external appearance of the whole is merely that of an ordinary pocket. The chain F is also concealed in the lining, or passed through along the inside of the vest in such a manner that the ring G is brought into a favorable position to be reached by the hand of the wearer. The pocket being dresses and may be also so adapted as to take the place of a money belt or for a breast pocket for Valuable papers in a coat.

I am aware that Joseph Calton has a It may be used in ladies" patent for spring, bolt and catch for fastening plates Y connected with pockets, but it Will be seen that I do not use or claim any of his devices. But

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The Wire frame With the spring, C, for throwing it open, constructed in the manner described.

HORACE HARRIS.

Witnesses:

SILAS P. HINDs, DANIEL F. ToMPKINs. 

